While viewers face the agonizingly slow anticipation for the new series of Line of Duty, which begins filming in January, actor Martin Compston can be seen in a number of different roles. He appears in a couple of surprising guises and again in the familiar form of a no-nonsense and brave character in Red Eye.
A Revelation in The Revenge Club
Firstly is The Revenge Club, where Compston offers a surprising performance. The premise involves a support group for people left by their spouses, a motley gang connected purely by their common situation of being abandoned. “There is no other basis for these individuals to be in each other’s company,” Compston states. “They’re all lonely and in serious need of companionship. They’re all, in their own ways, broken, which makes for this explosive dynamic.”
“If you’ve got an excitement about what you’re doing and zeal for what you’re doing, the public will follow you.”
Although this could seem bleak, the show is the opposite – including scenes in a modest community centre are vibrant. The deeds of revenge, carried out by the whole group, begin fairly tame before escalating into dangerous territory. The show initially evokes familiar tones but quickly carves out its own unique voice. “It sits in its own space,” he explains. “It moves from emotional scenes into a sort of caper. You think you’re going down a certain path, then you’re not.”
Stepping Outside the Usual Role
Two interesting aspects stand out about Compston's casting in this project. The initial is that he's playing for laughs, a change for him. “It was outside my typical range,” reveals Compston. The second development is his position as the love interest, a notable change from his often disastrous fictional relationships. Compston and his co-star share a wonderful passionate chemistry.
“This is one of the things I admire about the show,” he continues. “Our characters aren't just innocent victims who have been hurt. Our former partners may be people who’ve continued with their lives. All of us have gone down this road because we had little to hold onto, and all of a sudden we have this unit.”
Experiencing Las Vegas
Perhaps more surprising is the personal Compston featured in the upcoming travelogue Living Las Vegas. Having wed American actor Tianna Chanel Flynn almost a decade ago, he splits his time between Scotland and Nevada. The series follows him exploring his adopted home city, making friends with characters from a retro store owner to equestrian instructors. It shows a endearing and consciously apolitical glimpse of daily life.
“A lot of people live their lives on social media,” he notes, carefully. “I’m not unaware of the problems out there, but we reside on a lovely street, we’ve got nice neighbours... we’re all just living our lives.” He states his personal political stance but adds that, as a resident, he generally tries to keep quiet in an particularly angry discourse.
The Return of a Phenomenon
The recent confirmation of Line of Duty's next season has sparked tremendous excitement. The show earned historic audiences for its last season end. “The 9 o’clock slot, whether it be on a Sunday night or over the holidays, it’s priceless,” Compston observes. “You feel like you’ve got the nation in the palm of your hand if you’ve got something good to show them.”
He believes that the character of Supt Ted Hastings, played by Adrian Dunbar, has resonated deeply with the British public. “He is like the country's uncle. A guy who wants to do the right thing. People want to cheer for the good guys, and feel there are decent people out there.”
Future Projects
In the interim, Compston reprises to high-stakes drama territory in the second season of Red Eye, drawing on the charismatic energy viewers love him for. Outside of acting, he is increasingly thinking about producing roles. “You get that working-class guilt, you need to do something,” he explains of his drive.
He talks about one venture, a biopic about Allan Pinkerton, a Glasgow-born figure who created the Pinkerton detective agency in America. “He started the detective agency, worked on the Underground Railroad... led an remarkable life. This man from the Gorbals.” It seems like a role uniquely fitting for an actor associated with playing principled characters.
The Revenge Club is streaming now on Paramount+; Red Eye airs on ITV1 on New Year’s Day.
